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Beat the heat with these virgin Pina Colada Mocktails. This tropical blended drink is fruity and refreshing. It's made with wholesome ingredients like pineapple, lime juice, and canned coconut cream (or milk). And alcohol-free so everyone can enjoy it. Make a double batch because this mocktail is guaranteed to disappear quickly!
These virgin pina coladas are perfect for entertaining. Pair them with other fun summer cocktails—like Grapefruit Palomas, Spicy Mango Margaritas, Raspberry Mules, Frozen Mango Margaritas, or Strawberry Jalapeno Margaritas.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy: This blended pina colada takes only 2 minutes to make.
- Maximum flavor (no ice!): Ice—like water—dilutes flavor in cocktails. Instead, this recipe uses frozen pineapple to make a cold and refreshing mocktail.
- No Cream of Coconut: Many pina colada recipes call for Cream of Coconut. But, it's loaded with sugar and can be difficult to find. If you prefer to use more natural ingredients, then this recipe is for you!
- No Simple Syrup (not too sweet!): Simple syrup adds more prep time, because you need to make the syrup and let it cool. This recipe skips the simple syrup and uses less sugar—but not to worry, it's still pleasantly sweet!
Ingredients (and substitutes)
You only need 5 ingredients to make this easy pina colada mocktail:
- Frozen pineapple: To maximize flavor, this recipe skips the ice uses frozen pineapple. You can easily buy pineapple chunks from the frozen fruit section of the grocery store. Or, cut up a fresh pineapple and freeze chunks before using.
- Pineapple juice: We recommend using a pure pineapple juice without added sugar. Choose the brand you like best!
- Canned coconut cream (or milk): Use canned coconut cream if you can find it, otherwise substitute coconut milk. Be aware that canned coconut cream is different than 'Cream of Coconut'. Cream of coconut is a sticky, sweet syrup made with sugar and preservatives. Whereas canned coconut cream (or milk) provides subtle coconut flavor—without any added sugar.
- Maple syrup: Pina coladas are traditionally made with rum, but this recipe is alcohol-free. So, maple syrup mimics the vanilla and toasted sugar notes of rum. Brown Sugar Simple Syrup has the same effect. But, you could substitute regular simple syrup if needed. Feel free to adjust sweetness to taste.
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Other pineapple recipes you'll love: Spicy Pineapple Margarita, Beet and Pineapple Juice, and Pineapple Mint Smoothie.
How to make (step-by-step photos)
This virgin pina colada has only 2 steps. It couldn't be faster to make—and it's easy to make a big batch to serve a crowd.
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Tips
- Start with cold ingredients: Make sure the pineapple juice is refrigerated before using. This way, it'll help your mocktail be as cold as possible.
- Scale up for a crowd: You can easily make a big batch of these virgin pina coladas. All you need to do is scale up the recipe, add it to a blender, and blend until smooth and creamy! Because these virgin pina coladas are made in a blender, you can easily make a big batch with little effort.
- Make it boozy, if you'd like: Pina coladas are typically made with rum. While this recipe is alcohol-free, you can easily add alcohol if you'd like!
- Hosting tip: If you're serving a crowd of drinkers and non-drinkers, make the base recipe without alcohol. Then, add the rum to part of the batch. Or, leave a bottle of rum out so that guests can add it themselves.
- Have fun with garnishes: Garnishing is optional—but a fun touch. See below for ideas on how to garnish your pina colada mocktail.
Garnish for Pina Colada
It's by no means necessary to decorate pina coladas. But, garnishes make mocktails extra special—especially if serving them at a party! Here are some garnish ideas of pina coladas:
- Fresh pineapple wedge
- Pineapple leaf
- Lime slice
- Maraschino cherry
- Cocktail umbrella
- Decorative straw
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this pina colada mocktail recipe is vegan.
The ingredients are the same in a can of coconut milk and a can of coconut cream. Typically the ingredients are: coconut, water, and sometimes guar gum as a stabilizer.
However, the main difference is the fat content. The can of coconut cream has a higher amount of fat, because it contains more coconut and less water. Therefore, canned coconut cream has a more creamy and luxurious texture. Essentially, coconut milk is slightly more watered down version. But it works as a substitute in this recipe.
Cream of Coconut is a sweetened coconut syrup. It is typically used as a mixer in drinks or in desserts. Brands like Coco Lopez and Coco Real produce Cream of Coconut. It is often sold in a can or squeeze bottle.
Note: This recipe does not use Cream of Coconut. If you use Cream of Coconut in this recipe, the drink will likely be too sweet.
Yes, you can use brown sugar simple syrup or regular simple syrup instead. Or, if you don't like things sweet...you could skip the sweetener altogether.
Like most blended drinks, this recipe is best made right before serving. We do not recommend making this recipe in advance.
Appetizers to serve with pina colada mocktails:
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review below!
📖 Recipe
Virgin Pina Colada Mocktail
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks (see note 1)
- ¾ cup pure pineapple juice (cold)
- 3 tablespoons canned coconut cream (see note 2)
- 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or Brown Sugar Simple Syrup, see note 3)
Instructions
- Blend: Combine frozen pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut cream, lime juice, and maple syrup in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy (see note 4).
- Serve: Pour into serving glass(es). Top with garnishes if you'd like. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Frozen pineapple: Frozen pineapple chunks are sold in the frozen fruit section of the grocery store. Alternatively, you can chop up a fresh pineapple and freeze it yourself. If freezing your own pineapple, spread out the pieces on a parchment lined baking sheet, then freeze until firm.
- Canned coconut cream: Use coconut cream or coconut milk from a can. For best results, use the coconut solids at the top of the can. (Some brands do not separate, which is okay—simply measure out the liquid and use accordingly). This recipe does not call for 'Cream of Coconut', which is a sweetened syrup. Canned coconut cream or milk should not have any sugar added.
- Maple syrup: This recipe uses maple syrup to mimic some of the toasted sugar notes that rum has. Brown Sugar Simple Syrup works well for this too. Alternatively, substitute regular simple syrup. For an even less sweet option, leave out the liquid sweetener entirely or use less (and add more if needed).
- Blending tip: You can add a splash more pineapple juice if needed to thin the mocktail when blending. Make this drink right before serving, so that it's as cold as possible.
- Garnish ideas: Sliced pineapple, pineapple leaf, sliced lime, maraschino cherry, cocktail umbrella, decorative straw.
Liz says
So easy! Will make again.
bri says
Hi Liz! So glad you enjoyed these. Thank you for sharing!
Meredith says
Delish! Really enjoyed these. I added a bit more lime juice.
bri says
Thanks so much for sharing Meredith! Hope you have a great rest of your summer!
Sara says
I was looking for a "healthier" Pina colada recipe and stumbled across this! Very yummy. I made half the batch alcoholic, and the other half with white rum. My friends all loved it!!
bri says
Hi Sara! Yay, glad you enjoyed these pina coladas - both the non-alcoholic and alcoholic versions too!
Bella T says
Yum, I made this today for some friends and it was a hit! I haven't been able to find cream of coconut in the past, so I liked this work around.
bri says
Hi Bella - Yay, glad everyone enjoyed these mocktails. Hope you get to make them again this summer!